healthy active living

Travel guide to Chicago

Growing out of the banks of Lake Michigan, Chicago is an impressive place to visit and is one of the US’s biggest cities. To get the most out of your visit to the Illinois city here’s realbuzz’s travel guide to Chicago.

The Windy City, Gotham, Chicagoland: Chicago goes by many names, each one representing a different face of the city. For some reason it has found it tricky to shed its image as a city of crime run by gangsters like Al Capone, but there's plenty to see and do in the city of Chicago and here's just a taste...

Top five things to do in Chicago

Sears Tower
The world looks very different from 103 stories up. On a good day you can see 50 miles across the city as far as Michigan and Wisconsin. The ride up is complete with flat-screen monitors which make you feel like you are being blasted through the roof and out into space. It’s quite a ride and quite a view. From the towers viewing platform, not space.

Navy Pier
This is Chicago’s most popular destination by some way. There are fairground rides, restaurants, an IMAX cinema, museums and more. The Children’s Museum is great fun if you’re taking any children with you. Its hands-on exhibits engage and stimulate children and parents creative skills alike. You could waste a lot of time (and money) here.

Boat tour
For a different view of the city, get out onto the water. Boats leave from Navy Pier and other destinations. Whether it’s an architecture tour, a leisurely cruise or a speed boat ride you’re after, there is something for you. Dinner cruises are perfect for holidaying couples but are naturally more expensive.

Magnificent Mile
Found on the not quite as famous as Madison Avenue, Michigan Avenue, the Magnificent Mile offers over 3.1 million square foot of retail space. That’s over 460 shops, among which are Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Cartier and Hermes and more. There are also 270 odd restaurants, over 50 hotels and two museums.

Field Museum of Natural History
Visit Sue, the world’s largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton. Don’t worry though with over 20 million other specimens there’s plenty more to justify your entrance fee. The museum also plays host to interesting temporary exhibitions.

Where to stay in Chicago
The Gold Coast at the top of the Magnificent Mile (MM) has many bars, restaurants and the free trolley buses pass through here on their tour of the city. Either there or by Millennium Park further south. If you stay on or near Michigan Avenue (MM) you will be able to walk anywhere.

Where to eat and drink in Chicago
Chicago is the home of the pizza pie and so get to a pizzeria and indulge yourself. Maxwell Street Market (actually on Canal and Roosevelt) has something of a reputation for good honest street food and is a good market to boot. Chinatown also has a gaggle of restaurants and shops. The first week of July is 'Taste of Chicago' week and 60 restaurants showcase their scran, it's in Grant Park. Plus there's the Mile and its 270 restaurants and the Gold Coast. For a few beers to round off an evening have a few in one of the Irish sports on the Main Strip and then head up one of the side roads for a smaller quirkier bar.

How to get around Chicago
Chicago is enormous but all the good bits are centrally located so you can do most things on foot. The city is well-sign posted and easy to get around. But if you're a lazy swine (remember that pizza!) you can use the trolley bus for free which takes in many of the major sights that Chicago has to offer. This should suit your needs around the city centre but if you need to go a bit further afield there are trains. One way tickets, ten journey tickets and unlimited travel day tickets are available from train stations. The free trolley bus will take you to the station too – is there anything it can't do?

The best time to visit Chicago
Winters in Chicago are cold and the summer is a good time to visit any city, however there are events all through the year that make anytime a good time to visit. March 17th is St. Patrick's Day, and that means a parade; complete with massive leprechaun balloons and city water features being turned green. October 13th and Columbus Day is along much the same lines but a different theme and September sees a Mexican version for Mexican Independence Day. Christmas time holds many events which change each year, but make for a nice backdrop to your trip. And then if it's your thing there is the legendary Chicago Blues or Jazz Festivals in June and September respectively.